Page 37 of Time of the Warlord (Stones of Scotland #5)

S adie woke with a start. Oh, goodness. There was a medieval warrior downstairs, asleep on her parents’ sofa. How had she landed herself in such a ridiculous situation?

She rushed down the stairs, but it quickly became apparent that Ciaran was no longer asleep. Her parents were in the room, the radio on and the kettle bubbling. Ciaran stood by the gas stove, using two toasting forks to hold sausages over the grill.

“What a marvelous device this is,” he called to Sadie. “I do not understand why the flames are blue, but it cooks wonderfully well. And so fast to light!”

“He wanted to be helpful,” Sadie’s mother said with a shrug. Sadie did not know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of this huge warlord helping to make breakfast.

“He’s a good man,” her mother said softly. “I could see that just by looking at him, even without the story you told us.”

Sadie’s heart twinged.

“He is a good man,” she said, equally softly. “But he has to go home the day after tomorrow. Back to his own time.”

She turned away from the pity in her mother’s eyes and instead concentrated on filling the teapot.

They ate a cheerful breakfast, the four of them all together. Sadie had to translate a little more, now that Ciaran seemed more comfortable and keen to make conversation. The meal was almost over when the doorbell rang.

“I wonder who that could be,” her mother said, getting to her feet with a frown. She disappeared into the hallway. Sadie heard the door opening - and then a scream of delight.

Everyone in the room jumped to their feet as Norah appeared in the doorway.

Sadie stared at her.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you would stay at the lab.”

“I have to leave again tomorrow,” Norah explained. “How could I miss the chance to see everyone, though? Hi, Dad!”

It was time for another tearful reunion as their parents embraced the daughter they hadn’t seen in over a year - the daughter they’d once assumed dead. Ciaran stood awkwardly at the side of the room, keeping out of their way. Sadie went to stand beside him. And then, although she knew she shouldn’t, although she knew he would soon leave for good, she slipped her hand into his.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Norah said. “Here, I have this for you, Ciaran. It should make life a lot easier.”

She held something out on her palm, and Sadie gasped. Another language chip!

“Did Professor Edmondson give you that?” she demanded.

Norah looked faintly amused.

“Of course not,” she said. “I doubt he remembers that either of you exist. Help him put it in.”

Sadie directed Ciaran to slot the little chip into his ear. He winced a little as it dug into the skin.

“Do you understand us now?” Norah asked in English. Ciaran’s eyes widened.

“What a device!” he said. “I am speaking words I do not know, and yet somehow I do know them.”

He launched into a stream of nonsense words, which left everyone in the room clutching their stomachs with laughter. Sadie was almost in tears by the time he finished. How could this be the same man who’d pointed his sword at her by the stone circle, who’d dragged her out of the sea, who’d commanded an entire king’s guard? There were so many beautiful facets to him. She could easily spend a lifetime discovering them.

But no. She would not have a lifetime. He was leaving, and she must not forget that.

Ciaran cleared his throat.

“Well, then,” he said. “Now that I can use the correct language, there is something I wish to say. I apologize if my words are wrong, or if I do the wrong things. I do not understand the customs here.”

He turned to Sadie and grasped her hands. Everyone else had fallen totally silent.

“Sadie,” he said. “We’ve been through everything together. Through time, through danger, even through the sea.” He paused and shook his head a little. “I think these words do not make the same sense in your language. But what I mean to say is, I love you. I love you more than anything else on this earth, no matter what time I am in.” He took a deep breath and dropped down onto both his knees in front of her. “Sadie, will you marry me?”

Sadie heard her mother gasp, but there was no other noise except the pounding of her own heart. She stared down into Ciaran’s hopeful eyes.

“But where will we live?” she asked. “I mean, when?”

Ciaran shrugged.

“I will leave that in your hands,” he said. “You would make a wonderful Lady of Arran, but if you choose to remain here, then I will remain with you. We will find a way, Sadie. If you love me even half as much as I love you, then we will find a way.”

A tear spilled out onto Sadie’s cheek. She hadn’t even noticed it building.

“Then my answer is yes,” she told him. He jumped to his feet and swept her into a kiss as the room around them erupted with cheers.